Raymond Juma thought that Thursday, January 2 would be an ordinary day at work when he reported to take charge of a Mombasa Raha bus that plied the Mombasa- Lamu route.
Juma, while speaking to the media narrated how he managed to save the over 30 passengers who were in his bus from a hail of bullets sprayed by terrorists.
According to K24 Digital, as he drove through the thick forest on his way to Lamu, the gunmen jumped out the bushes and opened fire on the vehicle, demanding the driver to stop.
Despite the danger ahead, he engaged a higher gear and increased the speed of the bus.
“It was like a scene from a horror movie. They emerged from the forest and started firing indiscriminately, ordering us to stop. I engaged a higher gear and drove fast as they fired at us. Unfortunately, they deflated the tyres but I still managed to drive for about 100 metres,” the driver told reporters.
He further stated that by the time the gunfire went silent, many passengers were still screaming and traumatised. While most of them were grateful to have escaped the terror scene, three of them, unfortunately, died of bullet wounds.
Juma told reporters that vehicle had left Mombasa at 6.30 am on the same day in a convoy of three buses that were under the escort of police officers, who ironically made a u-turn when the gunshots rented the air.
The attackers were distracted from approaching his bus after a bus from the Simba Coach Limited appeared.
“They ran towards the bus as the driver was attempting to engage reverse gear. I could see all that was happening as I tried to save my life and those of my passengers. A few minutes later, we heard gunshots from the scene,” he added.
Lamu County Police Commander Perminius Kioi confirmed that the buses were indeed under police escort, but could not explain why the officers abandoned the passengers at the hour of need.
“I can confirm three people have died after suspected militants fired at the bus they were in. Three other people are seriously injured. We will provide more information once investigations are over. Those injured were rushed to Garsen and Witu dispensaries while the buses were taken to Witu Police Station,” stated Kioi.
He further revealed that four suspected Al-Shabaab militants involved in the attack on the passenger bus have been neutralised, with one being captured alive by the Kenya Defence forces.